Russian forest defender stabbed outside her home

MOSCOW 
Officials say that a 63-year old municipal legislator campaigning for protection of a forest just outside Moscow is in intensive care after being stabbed several times by an unidentified assailant.

The stabbing of Lyudmila Garifulina is the latest in a series of attacks on environmental defenders who have opposed plans to chop down forests outside Moscow to pave the way for construction projects.

Garifulina, a member of the legislature in the town of Staraya Kupavna, was attacked outside her apartment building late Wednesday. Her Just Russia party say Garifulina was also injured in a previous attack in November.

Police confirmed Friday that they have opened a probe into the attack but have yet to comment on possible motives.